Template:Use dmy dates

This template is used on approximately 870,000 pages. To avoid large-scale disruption and unnecessary server load, any changes to it should first be tested in the template's /sandbox or /testcases subpages, or in your own user subpage. The tested changes can then be added to this page in a single edit. Please consider discussing changes on the talk page before implementing them.

Contents

Usage

To promote consistent date formatting, place this template with other maintenance tags near the top of articles that use the dd mmm yyyydate format (below hatnotes, but above infoboxes, as per the Manual of Style). Use the parameter |date= for the month and year that an editor or bot last checked the article for inconsistent date formatting and fixed any found.

The template is useful to the editors to quickly know which date format is to be used when adding new dates into an article. It also facilitates article maintenance by enabling bots to recognise use of this format, and by adding the article to the hidden categoryUse dmy dates.

Use of this template is part of a continuing effort to monitor the date formats used in articles, to assist in maintaining consistent formatting within an article. It is not a temporary "cleanup" template. Therefore, do not remove the template without valid reason, such as a determination the article uses or should use a different date format.

After being tagged, and bearing in mind article evolution, periodic script or bot runs clean up formats, correcting any new introductions since its last visit, and updating the visit date on the {{Use dmy dates}} template.

The dmy and mdy templates have almost always been used to indicate date styles in the body of the articles; although it may also indicate the flavour of dates in reference sections or parts thereof. Therefore, this template notice ought to be read in conjunction with the blurb at Wikipedia:Date formattings. MOSNUM script documentation may also be relevant to those interested.

When a citation style does not expect differing date formats, it is permissible to normalize publication dates to the article body text date format, and/or access/archive dates to either, with date consistency being preferred (see MOS:DATEUNIFY).

TemplateData

This template should be placed near the top of articles that use the dd mmm yyyy date format.

Template parameters

Parameter

Description

Type

Status

Date

date

The month and year that the article was last checked for inconsistent date formatting. Example: 'June 2013'; may use '{{subst:DATE}}' template instead

Auto value

{{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}

String

suggested

Wrongly tagged?

If, for example, you determine that an article has a template that is inappropriate for its nationality, you should substitute the appropriate template to avoid scripts or bots reapplying the "wrong" format in the course of maintenance.